Mid-major programs carry the basketball banner in Virginia heading into March

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Five years ago, Joe Bamisile and Darius Maddox were freshmen sharing an apartment at Virginia Tech.

Now they’re set to go head-to-head as the leading scorers for the top teams in the Atlantic 10 — and maybe the best in the Commonwealth of Virginia, for that matter.

The flagship programs at Virginia and Virginia Tech from the Atlantic Coast Conference are battling to finish with winning records, making it likely this will be the first NCAA Tournament without either in a dozen years. Instead, mid-major teams like Bamisile’s VCU and Maddox’s George Mason are carrying the state’s banner as March looms.

“I wish we could have done it together, but it’s cool that in our final years, we get to be parts of programs that we’re huge pieces at,” Bamisile said of Saturday’s meeting with Maddox, “and show what our value has always been.”

Going into the weekend, two state teams are alone atop their league standings: George Mason (A-10) and Norfolk State (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). James Madison is tied atop the Sun Belt. Two others, VCU (A-10) and Liberty (Conference USA), are in second.

Add in William & Mary, sitting in a crowded top third of the Coastal Athletic Association, and the commonwealth has no shortage of mid-major title contenders.

George Mason, VCU and Liberty certainly have a chance at being at-large bubble teams come Selection Sunday. The Rams (No. 31) and Patriots (62) had the highest NET rankings among Virginia programs as of Friday, followed by the Flames (69).

For most of Virginia’s schools, a spot in the NCAA Tournament will require winning their conference’s automatic bids. Several seem within reach.

“Being at the mid-major level and making the tournament, it’s like threading the eye of a needle,” said Liberty coach Ritchie McKay, who has led the Flames to the Big Dance twice in his 12 years in Lynchburg.

The last NCAA tournament without either Virginia or Virginia Tech was in 2013. Tony Bennett had the Cavaliers in nine of the past 10…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mid-major-programs-carry-basketball-173448467.html

Author : Associated Press

Publish date : 2025-02-21 17:34:00

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